Some advice

[Niall Mattinson]

Hey guys

Just looking for some advice really, I am intrested in starting road racing. I have recently just got into cycling and I know I need to get miles in my legs before I am ready. At the moment I am currently averaging around 15-16 mph hour on a 20-30 mile runs, I know I need to be at a higher level to compete but what do you suggest? Just continue to get miles in my legs for now?

Any advice is welcome.

Cheers
Niall

 

[TissoT]

As you say more miles are needed .... speed also needs to be increased to around 25+ for competing in cat 4 road race
I race in cat 4 at the moment which is a minimum 25 mph (to keep in the bunch) ... hope this helps you ... go and watch some local races to get an Idea
Read up on some training books or find a training partner to ride with !

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

If you're serious, think it's best to start planning for 2015, I'll let others with more experience and knowledge offer more specific advice on how that is best approached,

 

[ianrauk]

Join a club

 

[Niall Mattinson]

I was thinking of starting next year, but i am starting to think maybe it's way to early! I need to shift some weight aswell!

 

[Saluki]

+1 on joining a club.

 

[Niall Mattinson]

Yeah I will look for a club to join!

 

[stephec]

As has been said already, join a club.

It's not just fitness, you need to learn how to ride in a bunch as well.

If you just turn up and race you'll be in for a shock when you have to fly round a corner with someone less than a foot from your elbow without causing a pile up.

 

[montage]

Hey guys

Just looking for some advice really, I am intrested in starting road racing. I have recently just got into cycling and I know I need to get miles in my legs before I am ready. At the moment I am currently averaging around 15-16 mph hour on a 20-30 mile runs, I know I need to be at a higher level to compete but what do you suggest? Just continue to get miles in my legs for now?

Any advice is welcome.

Cheers
Niall

What is your sports background?
You are in a good position to start thinking about the 2015 season.
Structured training plans always pay dividends if possible.
Try and join a club that offers coached sessions.

Right now, focus on putting in more miles with some long hard efforts some days, short sharp efforts others, and easy days as well - learn more about yourself as a rider, what kind of training loads you can manage etc. Come November / December start a plan that specifically builds you up to racing fitness.

Do some research into training language - for example could you explain to somebody what endurance, tempo, threshold, V02, anaerobic and neuromusclar training efforts are, and how these are useful to your training? How much time do you have to work with for training sessions etc etc

 

[Herzog]

Join a club, get some serious mileage in your legs over the winter period and learn how to ride safely in a group.
When I switched from recreational riding to racing 3 or so years ago, my endurance/base fitness was great and I could tick over all day between 18-20 mph for hours. However, I found the increases in effort difficult to deal with (e.g., sprinting out of corners, up short hills etc).

The Training Bible by Joe Friel is a decent read.

 

[Niall Mattinson]

Cheers for all the advice, sporting back ground is football, although I use to compete at grass track when I was younger so I am use to a bike.

Yeah I need to learn how to rode in groups and such so will look at my local club, although I know they are more interested in tt.

But for now how many miles a week do you think I should be aiming for?

 

[Herzog]

Cheers for all the advice, sporting back ground is football, although I use to compete at grass track when I was younger so I am use to a bike.

Yeah I need to learn how to rode in groups and such so will look at my local club, although I know they are more interested in tt.

But for now how many miles a week do you think I should be aiming for?

I'd consider time rather than miles; 8 - 10 structured hours...though it totally depends on what you do with them. Have a look at some training books for details.

 

[montage]

Cheers for all the advice, sporting back ground is football, although I use to compete at grass track when I was younger so I am use to a bike.

Yeah I need to learn how to rode in groups and such so will look at my local club, although I know they are more interested in tt.

But for now how many miles a week do you think I should be aiming for?

As many as your work/life/hobby balance allows really, the lower the hours, the higher the intensity as a basic rule of thumb.

 

[JasonHolder]

If you're keen, forget about 2014 as a racing period and spend that time not working on getting faster, but spending more time getting miles in.

After rolling out a rather good albeit late base period this year, I know what I'll be doing for next year! And what I won't be doing.

Its miles that lead to big gains in beginners! Enjoy

 

[JasonHolder]

200miles a week minimum in base period. 10-12 hours. You will get better the more you ride. Even at a low intensity